Why History Matters

There are many strands to history and each one is woven with the others to create a tapestry that can be shared with the community and country.

There are family histories, local history, public history and country history. Our cultural heritage is based on many stories and Bridgetown Historical Society, as the custodian of our local history and many oral histories, is working to preserve and maintain these stories so they can be shared to the community and indeed the many visitors to Bridgetown.

This thread in the tapestry can be called by another name - Heritage Tourism and is seen as an important factor in the economy of the community. Our community is indeed fortunate that the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire recognises this and is supportive in the endeavours of BHS. The Shire’s Strategic plan for 2021-2031 includes an outcome “Local history, heritage and character is valued and preserved.”

The Historical Society displays and shares this local history of both Indigenous and European in the Police Station Museum. We welcome local school groups and from Perth, tourism groups and other historical societies to the Museum. We present talks to local community groups. We conduct “ghost walks” – a walk in the past. We research requests for family history. We collect and accession local objects to add to our collection.

Our local heritage can be seen in the many early buildings, homes and commercial, that are still in use. Bridgetown was recognised by the National Trust as Heritage Town Status in 2000. “Bridgetown has retained places of significance from each phase of 138 years of European Development” (Reference from Trust News 2001).

The significance of Heritage tourism is stated by Judith Dunn (Councillor of the Royal Australian Historical Society) “A site which develops the potential for cultural heritage tourism gives the opportunity for the tourist to gain a greater understanding of the place and its people. It does not just bring benefits to itself but to future preservation because gaining an understanding of preservation of one site leads to the understanding of preserving other such sites.”

With the commitment of the Shire to the restoration of the 1898 Railway Station this exemplifies such preservation.

Returning to the imagery of tapestry a physical example was created in 1986 for the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Bi-Centennial. Stitched by the Art and Craft Group it presented the history of the town from gazettal to the then present day. This magnificent work is mounted in the Shire building on the wall of the passage down to the reception office.

The Historical Society welcomes new members or friends who believe history matters and would like to be part of this journey.

M: 0487 592 704

T: 08 9761 4236

E: bridgetownhistory@iinet.net.au

W: www.bridgetownhistoricalsociety.org.au

Lee Wittenoom